Troubled fibre optic cable project … E-Governance project may be piggybacking on GPL fibre-laced transmission lines

Jan 08, 2015 News

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– Alexei Ramotar confirms that this is happening but Luncheon hesitates to verify

By Kiana Wilburg

Manager of the E-Governance initiative, Alexei Ramotar, told Kaieteur News that for the sake of cost effectiveness, the venture has been piggybacking where it can, on the fibre optic cable transmission lines of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) along the coastal region.
The E-Governance project is just one of the three components of the current administration’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy. The US$32M project, Ramotar said, is not concerned with internet, but acts as a database centre for Government agencies and Ministries with certain applications which would facilitate a better management of payment processes and other information, efficiently.
He had said that the internet is just a service the project can provide, but it is not the main purpose of the project. He said too that it is finally complete and is expected to be operationalized and launched this year.
Ramotar said that the E-Governance feature which is complemented by GPL transmission lines was done because it reduces the cost of bringing in long lengths of fibre optic cables needed to support the project. He said that it is a standard procedure.
Alexei Ramotar, head of the e-governance programme, added that where GPL lines are not found, only then would monies be expended on new lines to make the connections. This lends to cost effectiveness, he said.
But Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon hesitated to confirm that this was actually the case yesterday at his first press conference for 2015, at Office of the President.
Dr. Luncheon was asked if the fibre optic cable which runs from Molesen Creek to Charity and the transmission lines laid by GPL along the same route are in any way connected.
He said that the two projects are totally different and that he does not think that GPL lines complement Government’s ICT network.
The Cabinet Secretary then said that perhaps, it can indeed be seen as a complement, but it is not in any way related or a part of Government’s ICT programme.
He added that the transmission lines which have fibre in them are said to provide for the purposes of the electricity company and not for the overall purposes of the ICT strategy and its three components.
Ramotar had explained to this newspaper, that parts of the E-governance project were taking a free ride where it could on GPL lines, for example on lines for the crossing of the Demerara River.
To this, he said that he would hesitate to validate that the network that has been created depends on the GPL fibre optic lines for its continuity.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that the GPL fibre optic cable may be added where applicable but it is not a fixed component of the ICT network.
When Dr. Luncheon pronounced, last year, on the project to the media, he said that another aspect of its ICT strategy, the Brazil to Guyana cable project, was in a remedial state and that he was in talks with a local firm and one of a neighbouring country on the completion of the venture.
The cable from Brazil to Guyana is “part of a promise” to improve access to the internet locally, at a cheaper and more reliable rate.
“I for one am engaged in negotiations, but I have to be hesitant in these days of prorogation. I am involved in discussions with a local firm and one from a neighbouring country to conclude the rehabilitation of the existing cable that traverses the over 200 kilometres from its entry point in Lethem to its termination here at Castellani in Georgetown…But in so saying (the project) is obviously in need of being remedied.”
But asked yesterday for an update on these talks, Dr. Luncheon said that he did not recall making a comment about discussions with a local firm and a foreign firm. He said that indeed what occurred was that a consortium that included a local firm and a foreign firm was at the hub of the talks.
He said that the parties involved are engaged with central government on the way forward with regard to the project, essentially to ensure the serviceability of the fibre.
Of course there are significant defects with the Brazil to Guyana project and those would have to be corrected for the bandwidth that is being purchased from Brazil to be made available for domestic use in Guyana “and the engagement with the consortium dealt specifically with how we are going to fix it and what is it that we can expect in recompense.”
Dr. Luncheon disclosed that government has a firm proposal that is under consideration from the consortium dealing with what would be provided in exchange or to meet the costs of repairing the cable and restoring to serviceability.
He added that the E-Governance project is ongoing.
The ICT project has three main parts; installation of communication fibre optic network from Georgetown to Lethem called the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. The second is the installation and commissioning of wireless and terrestrial network system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina which falls under the E-Governance aspect and the last being the One Laptop per Family Programme. This ICT programme according to the 2014 estimates of expenditure stood at $13B but the Estimates do not say what the exact cost for each component is.
While Guyana is not accessing the bandwidth from Brazil, it has incurred some debt with the Brazilians.
“Well I would hate to say this publicly, but we haven’t paid them for the connection. We do have a contract to purchase bandwidth, but the mechanism to access it hasn’t kicked in. The Brazilians have been understanding.
“We owe some US$76,000 a year for bandwidth connection on the project,” Dr. Luncheon had said. But Ramotar, who is directly in charge of this project, had insisted that Guyana is not receiving any bandwidth, and as such, he is not aware that Guyana owes the neighbouring country a cent.

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